There’s something electrifying about an African woman at the top of her game, and global corporations are catching on.
These corporations have realized that leadership doesn’t look one way anymore; and these 18 African women are the reason why.
They are not waiting to be handed power. They’re taking it, shaping it, and redesigning what leadership looks like from Cape Town to Geneva. They call the shots at some of the world’s most influential institutions — from Microsoft and Meta to the African Development Bank and the World Economic Forum.
They bring more than expertise to the table; they bring vision, urgency, and an unapologetic insistence on doing things differently.
Some are quietly powerful, letting their impact do the talking. Others are bold and loud, shifting culture and systems in real-time. But all of them share one thing: an unshakable belief that Africa is not just a beneficiary of global development, but a driver of it.
This Africa’s Day, we’re presenting this list. It is not just a roll call of women doing the work. It’s a celebration of African excellence on the world stage. Meet 18 African women who are leading global corporations—and leading with purpose.
Abir Ibrahim — Abir is the Associate Director for Africa at the World Economic Forum where she leads government engagement and drives the regional sustainability agenda for West and Central Africa. In this role, she works directly with heads of state, multilateral institutions, and Fortune 500s to steer conversations around economic transformation, investment, and gender equity. She has previously worked with institutions like UNICEF USA, the UN Global Compact, the Institute for Economics, and the Peace Corps, with a focus on transforming ideas into action.
Abir’s work is rooted in the belief that economic development must be inclusive to be sustainable. Besides shaping high-level strategies, she’s also decoding them to a digital community of over 100,000 followers. She breaks down global policy and economic issues with clarity and cultural context. Her commentary has landed on platforms like CNBC, The Guardian, and Voice of America. Abir’s leadership is one that is reshaping the narrative of Africa’s role in the world.
Balkissa Ide Siddo — As the Public Policy Director for Sub-Saharan Africa at Meta, Balkissa is shaping digital governance, ensuring that tech meets the needs of Africa’s diverse, fast-growing communities. Her journey started through civil society and activism. With a career rooted in justice, access, and impact, she led Amnesty International’s campaign and research work in Central Africa and championed the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance.
Balkissa believes that human dignity starts with the basics. This was why she led the charge for water sanitation improvements across Africa. Her path has crossed continents and causes. As Regional Coordinator for the Beyond 2015 Campaign, she helped shape the post-MDG global agenda. As a consultant with Monitor Group, she took on assignments across North and Southern Africa — but it was the two years spent working in India that offered a different lens on cross-cultural strategy. Proof that inclusive leadership should be a standard, Balkissa is also a board member, a mentor, and a firm believer in the next generation of African changemakers.
Buhle Goslar — Buhle is the Board Chair at Lula, South Africa’s first full-service digital bank for SMEs where she is setting the pace for inclusive, data-driven financial systems that serve, with a sharp focus on underserved and women-led businesses. Buhle has carved out a reputation as one of Africa’s most respected fintech leaders and was formerly the CEO of JUMO Africa.
Her career stretches across Sub-Saharan Africa, Europe, and Asia, and her work in advising the World Bank’s CGAP Executive Committee and shaping gender-responsive financial products has earned her accolades like the Accion Claugus Award for Financial Inclusion and a nod as one of South Africa’s Inspiring Fifty Women in Tech. Beyond her work in tech, Buhle’s activist and academic minds take form in her research on financial justice, data governance, and customer protection geared towards fueling better systems.
Buhle Makamanzi — Buhle is the Deputy Director of Global Communications at the Gates Foundation, where she leads the Foundation’s Africa-focused communications work with precision, empathy, and a keen understanding of the continent’s diverse realities. With over 30 years of experience under her belt, she is the quiet force behind some of the most strategic communications shaping development conversations across Africa and the globe.
Before the Gates Foundation, she was already steering conversations on global platforms. She co-founded the Media Monitoring Project in Zimbabwe and has managed regional comms for diplomatic missions like the U.S. State Department and the British Embassy. She also has a track record is steeped in service, consulting across Africa in monitoring and evaluation, advising NGOs, and strategizing for pan-African watchdogs like African Monitor Trust. What distinguishes Buhle is not just her resume, but her method: she leads with listening. With an insatiable drive for continuous learning, she is helping redefine what it means to lead global institutions from the African continent.
Catherine Muraga — As Managing Director of Microsoft’s Africa Development Centre (ADC) in Nairobi, she leads a team of over 450 engineers and computer scientists aiming to leverage the talent and potential in Africa to solve global challenges, address local needs, and contribute to Microsoft’s overall mission. A seasoned tech executive with almost 20 years of experience, some of her previous experiences include roles at Kenya Airways, East African Breweries, and leading engineering at Stanbic Bank Kenya and South Sudan.
Catherine’s journey has always been guided by one thing: driving business transformation through smart, inclusive technology. Her mission at ADC is layered; catalyzing local innovation, building globally competitive tech solutions, and creating opportunities for African developers to shine on the world stage. Catherine has a bold but grounded vision of more women in tech, more local talent in global pipelines, and more African-led answers to global challenges. She’s leading with quiet confidence, clarity of purpose, and a relentless commitment to excellence.
Clare Akamanzi — She is the CEO of NBA Africa, and she is leading a bold vision to grow basketball’s footprint across the continent, blending business, sport, and youth development into a winning strategy. With the NBA, the Basketball Africa League (BAL), and community-based programs, Clare is positioning Africa not just as a spectator, but as a key player in the global sports economy. Before stepping into this role in 2024, Clare spent over a decade shaping Rwanda’s economic transformation. As CEO of the Rwanda Development Board, she helped position the country as a competitive destination for global investment and tourism.
Clare led major policy reforms, landmarked partnerships with organizations like Arsenal FC and TIME Magazine, and her leadership sparked a wave of private sector growth that created over 100,000 jobs for young Rwandans. She has served as a trade negotiator, a commercial diplomat, and a senior policy strategist for the Rwandan presidency—all roles that reflect her deep commitment to smart governance and inclusive development. Clare’s leadership is deeply effective and focused on partnerships that matter, growth that’s intentional, and a future where Africa defines its own success narrative on the global stage.
Genevieve Partington — Genevieve made history in 2023 when she became the first woman to lead Amnesty International Ghana since its establishment in 1973, a powerful achievement that spoke of her relentless drive for justice. A feminist, polyglot, and policy strategist, she’s charted her path through Ghana, France, and The Netherlands, holding key leadership roles in organizations like Oxfam, Child and Youth Finance International, and the French Embassy in Ghana.
With over a decade of experience in human rights and international development, Genevieve has made it her life’s work to challenge broken systems and expand what leadership can look like in global institutions. In coordinating regional gender projects or managing complex international programs, Genevieve leads with intention, empathy, and sharp strategy. She brings not just a global lens, but a deeply people-centered one — grounded in the belief that leadership must be inclusive, equitable, and transformative.
Hassatou Diop N’Sele — She is the Vice President for Finance and Chief Financial Officer at the African Development Bank Group, where she oversees more than $33 billion in borrowing and over $25 billion in liquidity investments. In other words, if Africa’s development finance had a backbone, Hassatou would be it.
Since joining the Bank in 1999, she has climbed the ranks — leading capital market innovations, setting up long-term sustainability frameworks, and driving strategic financial reforms that have helped position the Bank as a global leader in development finance. She’s the architect behind the Bank’s landmark COVID-19 bond, the largest social bond ever issued by a multilateral bank. In 2024, TIME magazine named her one of the 100 most influential leaders pushing business toward real climate action, a recognition that affirmed her expertise and refusal to let finance be disconnected from global equity.
Henrietta Bankole Olusina — She is the Vice-President, Africa at Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors merging private sector savvy with policy advocacy, steering donor-funded initiatives that strengthen digital financial services and create new pathways for inclusion. With over two decades experience, Henrietta has led Nigeria’s Financial Inclusion Channels Working Group, launched “PayDay by ARM”, the country’s first investment fintech platform, and has been quietly shaping the financial future of the continent.
Before Rockefeller, Henrietta was the Managing Director at ARM Financial Advisors, driving enterprise-wide digital strategy across ten subsidiaries and leading the charge on IT transformation, big data, and digital commerce. Her fingerprints are also all over Accenture Nigeria, where she spent 14 years building and delivering growth strategies for industry leaders. Henrietta sits on the boards of organizations like Living Goods, ARM DFS, NowNow and is proving that inclusive finance can be fast, futuristic, and firmly rooted in the needs of the people it serves.
Janet Sudi —Janet is the Communications Lead for Development and Climate at the British High Commission, Nairobi, Kenya, a role where strategy meets storytelling on the global stage. With over 15 years in international development, she has become a powerful voice behind Kenya-UK relations, crafting compelling communication strategies that have shaped landmark events like the Africa Investment Summit, the Global Education Summit, and COP26.
A fierce advocate for gender equity, Janet is also the founder of a women in media think tank that brings together veteran journalists to mentor and protect young women entering the industry. It’s a bold space of solidarity and empowerment, tackling issues like sexual violence head-on. In moments of crisis, Janet steps in with clarity and command, transforming challenges into opportunities for resilience and reform.
Leila Farah Mokaddem — Leila is a powerhouse in African finance, serving as the Director-General for Southern Africa at the African Development Bank (AfDB). With over two decades at the forefront of development finance, she has held leadership roles across the continent from Head of Finance in Tunisia to Regional Resident Representative in Senegal, Egypt, and now South Africa. Her deep-rooted commitment to economic inclusion, especially for women, has fueled transformative initiatives.
A champion of gender-sensitive finance, Leila has reshaped how development institutions think about access and equity. Her policy influence spans from Tunisia, where she led export strategy at the Ministry of Economy, to Haiti, where she helped craft a new Investment Code as an advisor to the Minister of Finance.
Maggy Mushira Agweyu — Maggy is a Leadership Recruitment Manager at Google, leading the charge in hiring Director and VP-level executives across EMEA and heads recruitment strategy for Google’s expansion in Sub-Saharan Africa. A proud Kenyan and communications expert, Maggy brings heart, clarity, and a deep commitment to connecting brilliant minds with transformative opportunities. She is a seasoned Talent Acquisition leader with a sharp instinct for matching vision with leadership.
Her expertise lies in building authentic relationships, understanding the nuances of diverse talent needs, and developing strategic recruitment initiatives that align with organizational goals. Maggy is passionate about fostering inclusive hiring practices and contributing to a more equitable workplace where everyone has the chance to lead, innovate, and thrive.
Mamokgethi Phakeng — Mamokgethi is the 10th Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Town. She is a force of intellect, heart, and purpose who has reshaped what academic leadership looks like in Africa. Since stepping into the role in 2018, following her tenure as DVC for Research and Internationalisation, she has brought a bold, visionary approach to higher education. Before UCT, she carved out a powerful legacy at the University of South Africa, serving as Vice Principal for Research & Innovation and earlier as Dean of the College of Science, Engineering and Technology.
Affectionately known as “Deputy Mother” by young people across the continent, Mamokgethi is more than a scholar; she is a mentor, a builder, and a beacon of hope. Her influence extends far beyond academia. She currently serves on the Presidential Advisory Council on National Orders in South Africa and leads ventures like Perspicuting Consulting and TAU Foods with the same clarity and conviction.
Margaret Meg Edwin — Margareth, also known as “Meg”, is the Director of Communications and Public Information at Africa CDC and a storyteller with a mission to change the continent’s public health narrative. She is an award-winning global communications strategist and former journalist with over 20 years of experience under her belt.
At Africa CDC, her work supports the continent’s health security agenda, but her impact doesn’t stop there. She sits on nonprofit boards, guides start-ups on brand storytelling, and uplifts young communicators, proving that for her, real leadership is about lifting others as you rise. Whether she’s championing youth empowerment or building trust among global donors and partners, Meg brings clarity, creativity, and conviction to everything she does.
Nivanne Mortagy— Nivanne is the Regional Industry Head of Operations for the Financial Institutions Group (FIG) Africa at the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the private sector arm of the World Bank Group. Based in Senegal, she sits at the powerful intersection of finance and impact, championing development solutions that drive investment while transforming lives. With over 23 years of experience across corporate banking, investment banking, private equity, and financial services, Nivanne is no stranger to navigating complex financial systems and turning them into engines for inclusive growth.
She is a client-focused leader, deeply passionate about solving the world’s toughest challenges, from poverty to climate change, with pragmatic solutions and unshakable drive. Before joining IFC, she led Banque du Caire’s financial institutions sector, shaping strategic fund management.
Oluwasola Obagbemi — Oluwasola is a dynamic Nigerian communications leader with over 14 years of experience shaping brand narratives and external communications across Africa. Recently promoted to Head of Communication at Meta for Sub-Saharan Africa, she previously served as Corporate Communications Manager, steering the tech giant’s messaging across the continent. Her career spans notable roles, including Senior Communications Manager at Andela Inc. and Deputy Chief Operating Officer at Red Media Africa.
With a master’s degree in Communication Studies (Public Relations & Advertising) from the University of Ghana and a B.A. in Dramatic Arts from Obafemi Awolowo University, Oluwasola blends creativity with strategy. As a faculty member at Rome Business School and instructor at Talstack, she mentors the next generation of African professionals, equipping them with tools to lead, thrive, and grow.
Swazi Tshabalala — Swazi, South Africa’s nominee for President of the African Development Bank, Cote D’Ivoire, is a formidable force in finance and development, driven by a vision of Africa not as a continent in waiting, but as a global powerhouse in motion. With a stellar track record in strategic leadership, she champions a bold, future-facing agenda that accelerates investment in Africa’s most vital assets, deepens regional trade integration, and unlocks the full potential of the private sector to drive inclusive, sustainable growth.
From boardrooms at MTN, South Africa, Tiger Brands, and South African Airways to global development tables, Swazi has consistently advocated for innovation, governance excellence, and institutional resilience. She believes in an Africa that owns its narrative—confident, capable, and self-directed. She is working to rebuild the financial and economic architecture with purpose and precision through catalytic partnerships and forward-thinking policies.
Toyin Akinniyi — Toyin Akinniyi is a trailblazing Nigerian leader at the intersection of philanthropy, technology, and global development. As Vice President at Luminate, she leads the organization’s work across Africa, championing initiatives that promote social and economic justice while ensuring that communities have a voice in shaping the decisions that affect them. With nearly two decades of experience spanning impact investing, governance, grantmaking, and civic engagement, Toyin brings strategic clarity and deep empathy to her mission of building more just and inclusive societies.
Her journey began at the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism, where she spent over six years strengthening media and accountability through research, program design, and stakeholder engagement. A Stanford Draper Hills Fellow and accomplished author of over ten publications, Toyin is a trusted voice on numerous advisory boards and steering committees for global funder collaboratives.
